What today’s leaders need to know
How can we support leaders throughout their careers? Today we are talking with Forrest Helvie, Director of Professional Development for Connecticut Community Colleges and Melissa Harris, Director of Network Services at Fio Partners about leadership programs for seasoned leaders
Leadership: What we need to know (Part 2)
In this episode, we learn from two leaders who participated in a leadership program specifically for emerging leaders of color. We’ll hear what they learned, how this program was different, and their advice for future leaders of color.
What’s going on with the workforce?
Is the great resignation real? What about quiet quitting? And what does this mean for workers, organizations, and communities? We’re sharing our observations on the state and the future of the workforce.
The Power of Strategic Planning
Many organizations threw their Strategic Plans out the window when the pandemic hit, but strategic plans are an essential tool to organizational performance. Join us as our guest, Anne Yurasek, Principal at Fio Partners, tells us why nonprofits should develop strategic plans now more than ever.
Workforce Development Training: What’s Working?
Many organizations are struggling to find enough workers. Today we’re talking about innovative solutions to preparing workers. Serial social entrepreneur Charles Wilson joins us to discuss some of his innovations and share his perspectives on effective workforce development.
3 takeaways from talking data viz and racial equity on the Policy Viz Podcast
A few weeks ago, Eli Holder and I were invited to appear on the Policy Viz Podcast with Jon Schwabish. We were following up on our article on why it’s important to consider how you’re presenting data as much as what data you present. Here are three takeaways from that conversation. Data use and data…
Implementation from a Leader’s Perspective
Creating a specific framework to ensure that those strategic plans don’t gather dust.
Mentorship: an important aspect of leadership development
Mentorship can be an important part of anyone’s leadership journey, from early career to experienced leaders. Today, we’re talking with Nate Gonzalez, expert on mentoring about developing formal and informal mentoring programs and what makes a mentoring relationship successful.
Graduation keynote for YMCA Training Inc
I was asked to deliver a keynote address at the graduation of YMCA Training Inc’s 132nd cycle. The YMCA Training, Inc. program is an intensive 20-week, full-time computerized office skills training and employment program. Designed to replicate the expectations of a professional office environment, the training prepares participants with both the technical and job readiness skills to succeed. Here is what I said to the graduates.
How to work with consultants
Engaging with a consultant is a complicated and sometimes expensive process. So, how do you make sure that your engagement is successful? That your organization really get good value? And, that everybody leaves with a good experience and a great product? Today, we’re going to talk about how to work successfully with your consultants.

I help mission-based organizations measure their impact so that they can do what they do well. I started my nonprofit career as a teacher in workforce development and adult basic education. It was important work and I was worried that we didn’t really know if we were doing it well. In the process of trying to answer that question, I got a Masters in Education and a PhD in Social Policy, and became an evaluator.

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